Purple Sweater

Thanks Everyone

That day, the football field of the powerful Lawndale Lions looked very different from usual!

The entire grassy field right beside the school grounds had been transformed into what could very well be described as a party, with colorful Lawndale High flags and balloons everywhere, all in dark blue and bright yellow according to tradition.

Everything was cheerful, and even though most of the food and drinks were just pop and cheap pizza, plenty of students and their families were indeed enjoying the Thanks Everyone event!

Jane and Trent had chosen to just sit at the stands eating pizza far from everyone else, Quinn and her friends were gossiping and chatting with a few boys near the center of the field, the Lawndale Lions star Kevin was goofing around and meanwhile Daria and her parents were talking to the physical education teacher, Miss Morris, about the incoming forest adventure.

"You know" Miss Morris said, acting casual as she enjoyed her potato chips and downed them with a good amount of Heineken beer- "I talked to some of the best Yosemite rock climbers before organizing this thing! I admit, a few of them said that taking our students to Woodslack is a bad idea, yet most of them mentioned it's easy, even for beginners..."

"They need more outdoors time, I can tell you that for sure!" Jake said.

"Yeah! Exactly that!" Morris continued, now visibly tipsy thanks to all that Heineken- "I trust the capabilities of my students! I assure you that they'll be fine! Lawndale High has hired the best forest guide in the entire Northeast, John Astrella, a true legend..."

"We know that" Daria added, speaking in her monotone voice as usual- "Good... if the guide is nice looking, you bet Quinn would climb the freaking K2!"

"You have nothing to worry about! With your daughters and Astrella in my team, we'll claim First Place for sure!"

It seemed that the conversation would continue for a very long time, and then, all of a sudden, Jane screamed to Daria from a distance!

"Hey, Daria! Come on!"

"Good bye mom, dad... See ya later!"

"Daria!" Helen gasped- "Daria, wait!"

"Gee, Quinn!" Sandi Griffin said, having witnessed from all that distance how Daria had already left the event in the company of Jane and the very weird-looking Trent- "Your cousin... or whatever... is always the weirdest creep around in Lawndale High!"

"That's cause the Italian mafia is after her! You know, her parents got murdered, and now we are all that she has on the world!"

"You are so kind, Quinn!" Stacy added- "Poor Daria!"

At that moment, Jamie White threw the football too far, Kevin failed to catch it and the thing almost hit Jake in the eye!

"Gah damn it! You better be more careful, boys!"

"Sorry, Mister Morgendorffer!" Kevin replied, and after that he just hurried to place some distance and enjoy some of the pizza instead of goofing around- "We are sorry!"

"Calm down, Jake!"

"That almost hit me, Helen!"

"You know, your daughter Daria is a great student! Though, she should really avoid bad company, like Jane Lane and old Trent..."

"We know, Miss Morris..."

Quinn then realized that a couple wearing white chemist robes were talking to that happy-looking blonde girl at the far edge of the field, the Thanks Everyone event would soon come to an end and after that everyone would go home and enjoy a great weekend at last.